Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“It must have been amazing spending summers here as a kid,” I yell over the sound of the motor as the jet spits water out behind us.
“It was. Do you want to see the house we used to rent?” he asks, and my fingers flex on his waist.
“Sure.” Without another word, he drives for about ten minutes across the lake before he slows to a stop and cuts the engine.
“That’s it.” He points at a small house close to the bank, the color scheme reminiscent of the house we are staying in now. “There was no electricity or even a bathroom when we stayed there, but it was one of the only places my parents could afford.” I hear the smile in his voice. “When I got my first big paycheck I tried to buy it, but the owner wasn’t interested in selling.”
“So you built something bigger.”
“Eventually. It took a few years to be able to afford the land I purchased, along with the main house and the cabins, but it was worth the wait. Especially when I gave my parents the keys.”
“That was sweet of you,” I say quietly, and he makes a grunting sound in response before looking at me over his shoulder.
“Are you ready to drive us back to the house?”
“No.”
“Too bad.” He stands, then dives into the water, causing the vessel to rock from side to side. When he pops back up a couple of seconds later and pushes his wet hair away from his face, I scowl down at him.
“I’m not driving.”
“You are.” He swims to the back end and climbs on. “Scoot up.”
“No,” I refuse, and he sighs before shoving my hips forward and forcing me to the front of the seat.
“Grab the handles,” he orders, settling in behind me.
I want to refuse again, but I don’t, because this position feels much more intimate than the last, and I need a reason to get my body away from his. I should not find my fake fiancé so attractive, especially after some of our previous interactions, when he’s been so short to the point of being rude.
Once I have my hands in place, I listen closely to what he says to do next, then slowly take off. I don’t know what he thinks about on the drive back to the house, as his large hands settle on my thighs, but all I keep repeating over and over in my head is, I hate his touch.
Chapter 11
Dick
Completely exhausted after my shower, I walk right to the bed and lie down with wet hair and all. The culmination of getting up early, spending time on the water, a late dinner, and then S’mores afterward has made my body and my mind feel like they’ve been put through the ringer.
When the bedroom door opens, I don’t even bother opening my eyes. I can sense it’s Jace without even looking. I listen to him shuffling stuff around, then a couple of minutes later, I hear a door close and the shower turn on. And that’s the last thing I register before I pass out.
“Why are you on the floor?” At that screeched question, which I know is not a part of the dream I was having about Jace and me doing unspeakable things, my eyes fly open and I find Janet standing in the open doorway to the bathroom. Blinking at her shadowy figure outlined by the light behind her, I wonder if maybe I am still dreaming, and now this is a nightmare.
“Grandma,” Jace groans from the foot of the bed, and my heart melts a little, because even with me asleep with no way of knowing, he still went to sleep on the floor like we agreed.
“Why is my grandson on the floor?” Janet asks, and I know that question is directed at me.
“Why are you in here?” I ask stupidly, and she looks frazzled for a moment, then shakes out of it.
“I got turned around in the bathroom. I thought this was the door to my room. Now answer my question.”
“Penny was upset and needed some time alone,” Jace tells her, and my jaw drops open. He did not just say that.
“Time alone?” She scowls at me. “Do you think your marriage will last very long if you tell your husband to sleep on the floor every time you get upset?”
“I—”
“It won’t,” she cuts me off. “In my day, we dealt with our problems, then went to bed as a couple would. We didn’t get in a huff, then sleep separately. What exactly do you expect to solve with the way you’re acting?”
“Well—”
“Nothing,” she cuts me off again. “You’ll solve nothing. Now, Jace, get in the bed with your fiancée and talk things out. The two of you have a lot of growing to do if this is going to work out. Not that I expect it will.” She leaves, slamming the door behind her.